Hi again, retro. I'm looking for Buddha Chat replacements. Places with high traffic and interesting discussions. This seems like a candidate. I'm asking about others, because a lot of people must have gone searching by now.

fivebells wrote:Hi again, retro. I'm looking for Buddha Chat replacements. Places with high traffic and interesting discussions. This seems like a candidate. I'm asking about others, because a lot of people must have gone searching by now.

Hi. I think you may be disappointed.

Aside from E Sangha I don't think there are any others with the level of activity you describe.Many on BC who were most active would not be drawn to that place, I surmise.

Zen Forum International is gaining members and is probably the most lively aside from this forum.The Buddhist Lounge, Dharma Cloud and Mindful Arts still have a very small membership which also overlaps a lot.

There are Yahoo groups, but these also seem quiet.

Where have they all gone?

Well, thinking about it, the number of members at BC who posted regularly was quite small.

As with all such things, the 'market' is limited, and some sites may close or merge.

Dhamma Wheel and ZFI are best placed as they have more of a focus than the others.

I would recommend perhaps Tricycle as a site which is interesting to explore, as there are activities and blogs etc. which I find interesting.

13,000 articles and only 43 on Theravada?! Wow, that one is sure popular for Mahayanists, but apparently not for Theravadins. Don't know much about, just that really struck me how there could be so few posts in Theravada . . .

Although I haven't got high traffic (221 members but a lot less posting regularly) people are welcome to come and have a look here to see if they'd like to join. Some of the BuddhaChat people are members.

I'm an offline Tibetan Buddhist practitioner myself, but as well as newcomers and TB's, Theravadins and Zen practitioners are very welcome indeed - because I'd very much like to have a balance between the traditions. I've got Theravada and Mahayana forums (as well as other forums) waiting to be filled! So if anyone wants to , please come along and start some discussions or add to previous ones.

Dazzlebling wrote:Although I haven't got high traffic (221 members but a lot less posting regularly) people are welcome to come and have a look here to see if they'd like to join. Some of the BuddhaChat people are members.

I'm an offline Tibetan Buddhist practitioner myself, but as well as newcomers and TB's, Theravadins and Zen practitioners are very welcome indeed - because I'd very much like to have a balance between the traditions. I've got Theravada and Mahayana forums (as well as other forums) waiting to be filled! So if anyone wants to , please come along and start some discussions or add to previous ones.

Kind wishes to all,

Dazzle

Apologies:

I have to sound a note of caution here. Like E-Sangha, this site bans certain sects and topics, so as a matter of principle I will not be supporting it.

Of course, a site owner may do as they wish, but exclusion of others (for example because the Dalai Lama dislikes them exposing his oppression of Shugden supporters within the Gelug Tradition) is not something Buddha ever taught, as far as I know.

I don't wish to start a debate, merely to state the situation as I see it.

I think its only fair that I should be allowed to address what you have said. The code of conduct states that as the site supports HHDL, and while wishing them well. it is not really a suitable place for NKT.

Discussion about NKT is discouraged because I have members who have been traumatised by their experiences with them and wish to move on. The issue has been 'flogged to death' on other forums.

While I enjoyed being a member of BC most of the time, I found the astonishing ill will and name-calling that erupted now and then, very saddening. Particularly in the last few days of the site.At BWB there is at present a very gentle and caring atmosphere and I'd like to keep it that way. If people don't like our code of conduct then that's fine. I wish everyone well.

Buddha advised us to associate with virtuous friends, which is why I have mentioned my group here.People can of course,take it or leave it!

I'm wondering, from your perspective what differentiates the scope or intention of your new forum, from an established forum like New Buddhist which Fede referred to above? They seem very similar in intent to me, and in many respects the New Buddhist site actually seems less sectarian in that it doesn't have separate forums for the various sects. Interesting to note that New Buddhist seems to be running quite successfully, so there is indeed an audience for that kind of offering... a good sign for your site.